Ballet Slippers
Cracked black leather revealed
veins in the old ballet slippers
exposed like the veins on a leaf,
a metaphor for her life.
The slippers hung on an
old wrought iron hook
nailed to a wood beam,
forged by an equally old lover.
The dance shoes dangled close
to where she sat each morning
relishing the drizzled light
with coffee and birds.
Black slippers within her gaze
a reminder of younger adventures
as a dancer when
her movements were loose and free.
She laughed as she remembered when
she wore them one evening dancing
out the door of a college in Worcester,
donned in a yellow felt A-line mini dress.
She twirled into the arms of a
young man, amazed at the initial
connection, he noticed she was
wrapped in the scent of jasmine.
Remember how she could glide
across the stage
much like the red-tailed hawk
glides across the southern sky.
Her legs were wings whisking
across the the rivers in her mind
as she moved her chair, feeling
connected to her winged friends.
21 thoughts on "Ballet Slippers"
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I love that the slippers are kept nearby to remember what and who we were! How you weave in the past and the present. So much fun getting to read your work this June! We need to keep this going.
Thank you, Sylvia. This has been such an enriching experience to be part of a special community of writers. I appreciate your kind encouragement of my writing, and I love reading your work.
such sweet nostalgia. love the red-tailed hawk gliding
Thank you, Gaby. I have been so inspired and supported by this wonderful community of writers. I love reading your work and thank you for your kindness in encouraging mine.
I love it that you locale for the slippers. I like she danced in Worcester in an A-line skirt.
Thank you, Linda. Your kind encouragement gives me energy to write more. This is such a great community of writers. I have enjoyed reading your work.
Lovely! Thanks for sharing your work this month.
Thank you, Kevin. This is indeed a special community of writers, and my writing life is enriched with all of the kind comments and support. I have enjoyed reading your work.
Yes, so beautiful. Such proficient craft. I feel this piece as tears trickle down, recalling a dear one whose aspirations died on the way to audition for Trisha Brown. Thank you for sharing this writing. Until we meet again, peace
Thank you, Larry. I appreciate your kind encouragement and support of my writing. I enjoyed reading your work, as well. I went back to read your poems your dancer and will comment. They are beautiful and sensitive. Thank you for sharing here.
Love: “The dance shoes dangled close/to where she sat each morning” and the memories recalled, especially “dancing/out the door of a college in Worcester,/donned in a yellow felt A-line mini dress.”
Thank you, Pam. I appreciate your kind support of my writing and love this community of writers. I have learned from the series of your American Sentences- such depth in such few words.
Virginia Lee, it was so easy for me to see all the pictures depicted in this poem. The languid draping of limbs and lines of clothing. Legs long and liquid . . . I enjoyed the textures of this poem and I’ve enjoyed reading your poems this month. Thank you so much for all your entries, Darlene
Thank you, Darlene. I appreciate your kind support of my writing. I have enjoyed reading your work and so much appreciate this community of writers.
I can picture everything so well and the feelings come in from several directions as the story builds. I love your choice of details and how you marry the past with the present. I also loved the line: “he noticed she was
wrapped in the scent of jasmine” Beautiful writing! thank you!
Thank you for your affirmation, Ann. So glad the writing creates a picture. Always a good thing.
Shew, you had me at “veins in the old ballet slippers/exposed like the veins on a leaf!”
It’s been a pleasure getting to read your writing this month! I look forward to reading more!
Thanks so much, Shaun. I appreciate your kind and encouraging support of my writing. This has been an enriching experience sharing community with so many amazing writers. I have enjoyed (and been intrigued) by your work.
Loved the red tailed hawk and your poems and careful comments!
Thank you for your kind words, Linda. I appreciate your reading and commenting on my works. I have enjoyed reading your poems and look forward to next LEXPOMO.
Love the depth and memories uncovered from just a pair of ballet slippers. Had me hooked from the first stanza. Thank you for sharing!